This morning, my inboxes had videos of the continuing recovery efforts post-hurricane in the Carolinas and the recent minor flooding in our local area.
The flood waters reminded me of the presence of evil in the world today. It seems to be rising and threatening to flood over. A quick look at the world around us shows an increasing denial of the truth of Scripture with an increase in every kind of sin. It seems to wash over and threaten to carry everyone away.
On the other hand, I was also reminded of the power of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit comes, He pushes other things aside and does so with far more power than evil can withstand.
We often think of life as a battle between those two forces… the power of evil versus the power of God. Certainly, life has those elements, but we tend to think of them as a battle of equals. Nothing could be further than the truth.
Evil, sin, the devil, and the grave are already defeated. Nothing, no power in all of creation, equals the power of God. Even when evil runs high and with great power, when it threatens to overwhelm everything in its path, its power is minuscule compared to God.
God’s power holds His people safe in His hands.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Death and the grave are defeated.
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 ESV
Satan is defeated
For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Romans 16:19-20 ESV
The final home of all believers is a place where nothing and no one evil can come in.
And saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:22-27 ESV
When you watch the news, the media seems to show evil triumphing hold fast. Hold fast when you get bad news about a friend or a loved one. When the world seems to be against you, hold fast.
No matter how high the river of evil threatens to rise, how far up the banks it creeps, or what the forecast seems to predict, we can hold fast in the arms of Jesus. Nothing can separate us from Him, and God Himself has guaranteed victory.
When I think of that, I remember a rhyme I heard years ago. I don’t know where it is from,
Safe in His hands
Secure in His love
When life gets hard
Just look above.
Until next time, even if you are neck deep in the rising waters, remember that God has proclaimed victory, and the river of the Spirit trumps the river of evil every time.
Rejoice in God no matter what the world throws at you.
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
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